George Clooney revokes support for Biden after troubling fundraiser encounter

George Clooney, a prominent actor and lifelong Democrat, publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with President Joe Biden after meeting him in person at a fundraiser in Los Angeles. This encounter took place just weeks before Clooney penned an opinion piece for the New York Times, urging Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Clooney stated that he was surprised by Biden's demeanor and performance during the event, contrasting it with the confident leader he remembered from previous years. Following the fallout from a disastrous debate against Donald Trump in June 2024, party pressure escalated, leading Biden to withdraw from the race less than two weeks after Clooney's public criticism. In light of Biden's declining performance and concerns regarding his age, Democrats held clandestine meetings in 2023 to strategize possible scenarios for Biden's withdrawal and to discuss Vice President Kamala Harris's role as a potential nominee. These discussions included contingency plans that hinted at the significant concern over Biden's fitness to continue as the candidate. This orchestrated planning revealed the party's growing unease about the implications of an aging president, culminating in a somber reflection on his abilities and the future of the Democratic party's campaign. Ultimately, Biden's supporters, including family members and veteran aides, urged him to remain in the race despite the evident challenges he faced, specifically pointing to his mixed performance at the debates. The events surrounding Clooney's disillusionment and Biden's withdrawal from the race serve as a microcosm of broader tensions within the Democratic party leading up to the 2024 elections.